Jan 5 2022 Newsletter

 

This morning's meeting began with Co-President Brad Ruth leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Program Host, Annie Hanson Hilaire followed with the invocation.  She read to us "Lead by Example" by Sol Silverstein.  

 

Birthdays:  Roger Cline celebrated his birthday on January 2 and Bob Sweitzer celebrated his yesterday.  We did a zoom birthday wave to Bob who was with us this morning.

 

Wedding Anniversaries:  Roger and Judy Cline were married 57 years on January 2.

 

Rotary Anniversaries:  Congratulations to Dick Hall for his 30th anniversary as a Rotarian on Jan. 2 , to Kelly Toppin for 4 years on January 3 and to Gail Moseley for 3 years on January 9.

 

Pat Messmore told us that his daughter, Amy graduated from Penn State University with a degree in elementary education.

 

Foodbank:  Mary Dula told us that our volunteer participation at the Foodbank is cancelled for this evening due to concerns about Covid.

 

Chili Open: David Miller and Mella Caster of the Akron Rotary Cub were with us to talk about their Chili Open which benefits the Rotary Camp  The event will be Saturday, February 5 at Hale Farm from 9:00-2:00.  They are looking for silent auction items and sponsorship donations as well as purchase of raffle tickets  Last year they raised $320,000 for the camp.  For more information go to chiliopen.net.

 

Volunteer Need:  Watch for an e-mail from Brad Ruth about a volunteer opportunity to help at drive-through testing at Summa.  Many volunteers are needed.

 

Board Meeting:  Our Board Meeting will be virtual on Friday, January 14 at 7:15 a.m.  The minutes from the December Board Meeting are attached to these minutes.  One of the decisions to be made at that time is the virtual vs. in person type of meeting for February.

 

Bulldog Bag Requests for January:  Cups of macaroni and cheese, small bags of pretzels, toothpaste and toothbrushes are requested for this month.  Items can be dropped off in the lobby of City Hall where there is a bin for collections.  

 

Program Host, Annie Hanson Hilaire first told us about how she has dealt with the pandemic.  Lizzie was born in August of 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic and another baby will be born in April, 2022. The pandemic allowed her to continue to work at home when her maternity leave from having Lizzie ended.  She explained that students are now back on campus, wearing masks and generally moving forward.  Campus visits are now encouraged.

 

She then introduced our speaker, Kevin Smith who is Senior Director, Executive Education and Strategic Engagement of the College of Business at the University of Akron. He is also a member of the Akron Rotary and has degrees from The Ohio State University, Ohio University and The University of Akron.  His talk was called, "Higher Education, Back to the Future".  He explained how his journey led him from Norwalk, Ohio where he played sports and also the tuba in the high school marching band, to dotting the i with the Ohio State marching band at the national championship 19 years ago.  One of his main goals is to help people in the school and community to be successful.  The University offers free classes to people who are 60 years of age and older.  

 

He gave us a bit of history of higher education from the founding of Harvard in 1636, where the main purpose was to educate people of the cloth and men of leisure.  By 1816, the goal of The University of Virginia was to educate people to be informed citizens who could serve the public.  At that point the library became the center of the campus, instead of a church, which was the pattern of earlier schools.  In further years, land grant college and community colleges were established.  Harvard had the first business college in 1908.

 

Today there are many opportunities offered by higher education.  There is both professional and executive education where there are non-degree seeking professionals, gap years and stackable certificates.  There is broadened access to the academic mission as campuses extend resources into the community.  In conclusion, Mr, Smith stated that "Success is focusing on the community and not just a degree".  For more information, contact Kevin at k.smith8@uakron.edu.

 

JOKE:  We did not have a joke this week, but next week's joke will be by Mary Dula.

 

Wednesday, January 12, 7:30 a.m.,  weekly meeting on Zoom

 

Friday, January 14, 7:15 a.m., Board Meeting on Zoom.

 

Wednesday, January 19, 7:30 a.m.,  weekly meeting on Zoom.

 

Wednesday, January 26, 7:30 a.m., weekly meeting on Zoom.

 

Wednesday, February 2, 7:30 a.m. weekly meeting with the site to be determined.

 

Wednesday, February 2, 4:30-6:30 p.m. volunteer time at the Akron Canton Foodbank.  

 

Saturday, February 5:  9:00-2:00 Akron Rotary's Chili Open at Hale Farm and Village in Bath.